CHAPTER NINE
WOLF
I laid back on the bed, my head on her stomach as she rummaged through the recent contract.
“What do you think? Should we investigate it?” I was still on edge about the business Tuco was offering, and I needed her expertise.
She threw the papers down on my side and swept a hand through my hair. “I don’t think you should buy anything that hasn’t been patented and doesn’t require at least a sixty forty split.”
I closed my eyes and plopped my hands across my stomach. “This is going to be a problem.”
She continued to play with my hair, threading it through her fingers. “It’s really not a good deal. Grayson’s right. We don’t know what they’re exporting, where it’s coming from and Gray did his research. None of the other bar owners trust it.”
I sighed. “I’ll get Seth and Knox to take care of this.”
“Will if affect the business?”
I shook my head and closed my eyes. I tried to hide it, but my brow was furrowed with worry. “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
She smiled, soothing my tension. “I have a friend who works at a bar. I’ll ask her what new products are out.”
I opened one eye and looked at her. Then I swiveled around on the bed, straddling her thighs. Gently, I ran my hands under her shirt, indulging in her warmth as she squirmed beneath me. “What would I do without you?”
She giggled as I nuzzled her neck. “Get into trouble with illegal shipments.”
I laughed and then quieted as I stared down at her. “Today’s judgement day.”
She ran her hand down my cheek and I pressed into it, enjoying her touch.
Regina had managed to get a Founders meeting going. Nick, Meg’s husband Bear, and the new exec committee was included. I had already gotten private votes going with Grayson, Cain, Seth and the club’s Road Captain, Riggs.
“Everything’s going to be fine. We got this.”
I took her hand in mine and kissed her palm. “Will you stay with me, if I get kicked out I mean.”
She shook her head. “No.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I’d stay with you no matter what.”
I smiled. “Then I’ll take anything they hand me.” I leisurely stroked her flesh. “Will you stay here with me tonight?”
She giggled and nodded. “As long as you don’t get kicked out. If not, you’ll have to stay with me.”
I chuckled. “As long as I get to bury myself inside you, I don’t really care where we are.”
I WAS TAKING Scarlett home to pick up some items for tonight, when I heard familiar voices carrying up from the bottom of the stairs.
Ramon, el Tuco, Moreno ran Los Perdidos, one of the gangs that lurked the streets of Los Angeles. In order to be on their turf, you either paid your due or took their business. The Hell’s Lovers did neither, nor did we care. Tuco respected us and we respected them. How? We didn’t take away their business. Everything we did, we did legally. And our customers were definitely not theirs. Everything seemed fine, until now.
Tuco Moreno had entered Club Ravenous with one sole purpose, to get us to buy the product whether we liked it or not. He had come in with three of his amigos, as he called them. They looked more like his guns, who stood by his side just in case something went wrong.
And shit was about to go wrong. As I came down the stairs I spotted Riggs and Knox at one side of the bar, while Tuco and his men stood near the doorway. One of the big guys, a makeshift blonde, eyed me and then took a nice long leer in Scarlett’s direction. I stepped in front of her to block his view. My jaw clenched and so did my fists as he smirked at me.
I turned to her. “Upstairs, now. And lock the door.”
She frowned, but did what I told her and ran up the stairs without looking back.
Good girl.
I turned to the men in the room and as I pass the blonde I grit out, “You look at her again and I’ll rip your eyes out.”
The guy stepped up to me, but Tuco appeared, placing a hand on his chest and pushing him away from me. “Wolf Stone! Just who I wanted to see.”
I looked down at Tuco and gave him a quick nod. I headed towards the back of the bar and as I poured us a drink, I swiftly placed the glock I had hidden, within my reach.
“How’s it going, Tuco?”
He sat down across from me, looking relaxed and confident. “Well, if seems like your men here are telling me you don’t want to do business with me?”
I looked down for a second and cursed Grayson for not letting me handle things my way. I looked over at Riggs and Knox who stood spread out at either side of the club, one by the door and one by me. I knew what they were preparing for.
I nodded. “That’s right.”
Tuco looked up and glared at me. I felt the tension run through my body, keeping me alert to any movement. After about a minute of having a complete staring match, Tuco finally backed down.
“I don’t think that’s the right move, Stone. There’s a lot of money involved here.”
I looked him dead in the eye. “Money I’d rather not get involved with.”
Tuco nodded, took the last swig of his beer and stood up. “I can make it worth your while if you reconsider.”
I clenched my jaw, keeping myself from kicking him out. “I said, no.”
Tuco ran a hand down his jawline and I could see the dark look in his eyes. “I don’t think this is gonna’ work for me, bato.”
My fingers gripped the glock beside me. “How’s that, Tuco?” My voice was low and filled with warning.
“See, we were doing fine, but you’re not giving me anything in return.”
I perched on the bar and leaned in on him. “I don’t need to give you shit.”
The blonde that came with him raised his gun and aimed it at me. I immediately raised mine and pointed it at Tuco’s head. Riggs and Knox had theirs trained on both men.
I sighed. “See Tuco, I didn’t want it to get to this point.” I cocked the barrel and kept my hand steady. I wasn’t planning on shooting him. I just wanted to scare him.
The blonde move forward and Riggs placed his gun to the back of the guy’s head. “Drop it blondie, or I will shoot.” To make his point, he cocked the trigger.
“The name’s, El Rubio, maricon.” He gritted out.
“I don’t give a fuck what your name is asshole. One move and I’ll blow your brains out!” Riggs shoved the gun against his temple, leering at him menacingly.
Tuco turned around and shook his head at the other man, but spoke to the man at the door. “Alright, alright. Just put the gun down Rubio, do what he says bro.”
He looked at me and scowled. “This is the wrong move, Stone.” His tone held an underlying threat.
I shrugged. “You don’t scare me, Tuco. Not you or your men. See the guys behind you?” I nodded over at Riggs and Knox. “They’re professional killers. One wrong move and you all go down in a matter of seconds. I see you around here again, and I’ll take you down myself.” I uncocked the glock and placed it on the bar. “Now get the fuck out.”
My voice was low, but it got the point across. Tuco raised his hands and backed away. I watched Riggs as he shoved the one called El Rubio out. The guy snarled at him and looked at me. “This ain’t ending here, bato!”
I nodded at him, acknowledging his threat, as Knox slammed the door in his face. He then turned to us and whistled. “We’re so fucked.”
I ran my hand through my hair and placed the gun at the waistband of my jeans. I hadn’t done that in years, but I was gonna have to keep it on me for the time being.
“Make sure you let the club members know. The gang, Los Perdidos, are now a threat. No one goes anywhere alone. Not me, not you, not my Scarlett. If I’m not with her, one of you is. You got that.”
They both nodded and Riggs answered. “You got it boss.”
I went up the stairs to find Scarlett perched on the bed, biting her nails. When she saw me, her face lit up with worry and she threw her arms around me.
“Are you alright?”
I nodded, trying to remain calm and not scare her. “Yeah.”
“Those guys looked mean in there.” She looked at me, searching for information.
“Look, gorgeous. Just don’t go out alone for a while, okay? If you need something you come to me or one of the guys and we’ll go with you. We need to lay low for a while. Can you do that for me?”
“They’re dangerous aren’t they?”
“Can you do that for me?” I repeated, wanting to get the answer I needed.
She nodded. “Yes, of course.”
I sighed in relief and hugged her close. In that moment I knew that if anything ever happened to her, I’d die.